8th REReP Task Force meeting
September 23, 2005
Brussels, Belgium
Albania
Report on reforms in environmental
policy and reconstruction
1
Development of legal and policy
framework
• Legislation approximation
– A. Laws approved (6)
• Law no.9299, date 28.10.2004 “On the approval of
amendments of Basel Convention for the Tran
boundary transfer of hazardous substances”.
• Law no. 9334, date 16.12.2004 “On the approval of
Albania’s adhering to the Kyoto Protocol, in the
frame of the Framework Convention of Climate
Change”.
• Law no. 9279, date 23.09.2004 “On Albania’s
adhering to the Cartage Protocol”
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Development of legal and policy
framework
• Law no.9263, date 29.07.2004“On the ratification of the
convention on persistent organic pollutants”
• Law no. 9347, date 24.02.2005 “On the ratification of the
agreement between the RoA and the government of the
Republic of Macedonia for the protection and sustainable
development of the Ohrid lake and its watershed”, based on the
Convention for the protection of world natural and cultural
heritage; Convention on biodiversity; Ramsar Convention;
Convention on EIA on the transbondary context; Aarhus
Convention; Bonn Convention.
• Draft law “On the EIA in the transbondary context” is being
discussed by the Parliamentary commissions.
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Development of legal and policy
framework
B. Decisions of Council of Ministers ( 5 )
• DCM no.680, date 22.10.2004 “On the declaration of the
wetland system Vjose-Narte as water – terrestrial protected
landscape”.
• DCM “On the activity of the Environmental Inspectorate
“approved in January 2004.
• DCM no.86, date 11.02.2005 “For the establishment of the
management committees of the protected areas”.
• DCM no.99, date 18.02.2005 “For the approval of the
Albanian catalogue for the classification of waste”. based on
the Commission Decision 2000/532 as amended by
2001/118/EC and 2001/119/EC and the Council Decision
2001/573/EC, Directives 75/442/EEC and 91/689/EEC.
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Development of legal and policy
framework
• DCM no.177, date 31.03.2005 “For the approval of
norms on effluent discharges”.
• DCM no.469, dt.23.06.05 “On the rules and
procedures of the administration up to the banning
of the ozone depleting substances” based on the
Directive 2002/3/EC.
• Common guideline of the Minister of Environment
and the Minister of Transport and
Telecommunications no. 6527, date 24.12.2004 “On
the allowable levels of air pollutants from emissions
and noise from road mobile sources and the
approach for their control” based on the Directive
96/96/EC as amended by Directive 2003/27/EC. 5
Development of legal and policy
framework
• DCM “On the approval of the strategy for the
implementation of the Aarhus convention”
• Other DCMs to be approved by the end of 2005:
• Draft- law on “Albania’s adhering to the Convention on
Long Range Transbondary Air Pollution” (CLRTAP) – on-
going.
• Draft- law on “Albania’s adhering to the protocol of PRTR
of Aarhus Convention” – to be approved soon.
• Decision no.153, dt.18.03.2005 “For environmental
protection from transbondary impacts” – planned to be
approved by the Parliament at the end of 2005.
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Development of legal and policy
framework
• Draft DCM “For the declaration of the Shkodra Lake as a
natural managed reserve” – on-going.
Other secondary legislation:
• Order of the minister of Environment “For the
indispensable documentation for the application for an
environmental permit”
• Regulation “On the form, content and administration of the
environmental dossier” December 2004.
• Regulation “For the public participation in the EIA
process” approved on 17.08.2004.
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Development of legal and policy
framework
• Guideline “For the approval of the list of activities,
application format, rules and procedures for obtaining the
environmental consent and authorization of the REAs”,
approved on 17.03.2004.
• Draft-Guideline “For the service tariffs for the
environmental declaration, permit, authorization and
consent”, to be signed soon by the Minister of
Environment.
• New development: prior consultation of the economic
agents with the MoE and civil society since the preparation
of the ToRs, etc.
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Development of legal and policy
framework
• ELPA project – CARDS 2002
• Improving inter-sectorial coordination
• Drafting a smart national environmental
strategy focusing more on how to do things
than what to do
• Increased involvement of the local
government
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Development of legal and policy
framework
• NPAL drafted and approved by DCM
• Short term: 2005-2006, 33 directives, i.e 9% of the Acquis
• Medium term: 2007-2008, 82 directives, i.e 23% of the
Acquis
• Long term: 2009-2014, 45 directives i.e 68% of the Acquis
10
Civil Society/Public Involvement in Policy
Making and Implementation
• Environmental bulletin published by MoE
• MoE’s website in internet www.moe.gov.al updated in
April 2005(in Albanian)
• All kind of activities with the participation of NGOs: all
Steering Committees of different projects
• During 2004: 541 articles in the written media
• January & February 2005 a total of 187 articles
• 6 press conferences
60 people/month visiting the Information Center
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Civil Society/Public Involvement in Policy
Making and Implementation
• Continued Workshops (10 in the period December 04-
April05) on the new legislation at the local level (REC,
OSCE, MoE)
• Participants: staff of municipalities, Council of the County,
Prefecture, Regional Forest Directories, Local Water
Directories, other inspectorates, NGOs, students and
teachers.
• Areas covered:
– Elbasani, Shkodra, Vlora,
– Gramshi, Gjirokastra, Berat,
– Durres, Lusnja, Korca, Kukes
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Total number Local NGOs University Business Others
Name of of Government and Students
Districts Participants
No
1 Elbasani 41 11 4 3 8 15
33 5 5 16 7
2 Shkodra
3 Vlora 34 11 5 5 8 5
20 12 2 6
4 Gramshi
28 11 5 3 9
5 Gjirokastra
53 40 3 7
6 Berat
34 17 4 13
7 Durres
22 14 8
8 Lushnja
38 20 1 6 11
9 Korca
28 16 4 8
10 Kukes
331 157 31 33 18 89
Total
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Achievements in reducing
environmental pollution
– The feasibility study for the rehabilitation of Durresi hot
spot, completed.
– Draft agreement for a fund 1,5 million USD for Bishti I
Palles, for re-packaging and disposal.
– Grant of 3.5 million US$ pledged by the Royal
Netherlands Embassy for Porto-Romano for
rehabilitation, strengthening the implementation
capacity of MoE, hydrogeological monitoring,
remediation and demolition works
– Results of the continuous monitoring of health in the
Porto Romano show evidence of the environmental
health impact.
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Achievements in reducing
environmental pollution
– A study performed by an NGO, through questionnaires and tests of
100 school children of 10-16 shows that the following data are
reported:
• 49% headaches; 27% dizziness, 18% cold; 31% stomachache;
14% nausea and vomits; 14% skin rash; 18% nose bleeding;
• Symptoms connected to the presence of dust and lindane
– Dislocation of 4 families illegally settled in the most risky area of
Porto Romano, 8.5 million ALL from MoE under tendering
process. Within 2005.
– The construction of the isolating wall for the first part has finished.
Tender procedures for the constructions of the rest of the isolating
walls completed. Construction under process.
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Achievements in reducing
environmental pollution
Feasibility study for the environment rehabilitation
project of the former PVC plant in Vlora.
• Feasibility study for the urban waste management
project
• Council of the County was gathered with
representatives of the community for a public
consultation on the site selected for urban waste
landfill
• Final draft report for the 3rd and last phase delivered
to MoE and UNEP.
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Achievements in reducing
environmental pollution
 Arsenic treatment from the ammonia factory in
Fier completed.
 Preparations on-going for the export of the
solidified waste abroad, to be treated in a
hazardous waste treatment plant.
 Follow up project suggested for the extra
amounts of arsenic solution and polluted
facilities, discovered recently.
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Achievements in reducing environmental
pollution
 Water treatment plant for Ballsh oil refinery (tender to
be launched)
 Pre-feasibility studies completed for Elbasan, Rubik
and Lac – Institute of Environment
 Feasibility study and detailed design for a hazardous
waste landfill on-going,
• three potential areas already selected,
• no decision yet on the final site for construction,
• draft law and strategy prepared and discussed with line
ministries, civil society, media
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CARDS 2005
Pollution abatement at Ballshi Refinery (Phase II)
• Design, procurement and installation of integrated
pollution control facilities – through the provision
of a wastewater treatment plant.
• Further training in environmental protection and
management as well as operations and
management of wastewater treatment plant
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CARDS 2005
Environmental ‘clean-up’ of Nitrogen Fertiliser Plant, Fier
(Phase II)
• Further treatment of hazardous residues/ wastes (arsenic
based);
• Transportation and final disposal of hazardous residues/
wastes;
• Removal, management and safe disposal of asbestos
wastes and contaminated concrete structures; and
• Remediation/ rehabilitation of former polluted areas.
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CARDS 2005
• Environmental review and Action Plan in wider
Patos Marinze area
• Environmental review of wider Patos Marinze
area, identifying main sources of contaminants
and negative impacts to key receptors;
• Develop an Action Plan, identifying key actions
for remediation/ rehabilitation of key pollution
sources; and
• Priority actions indicated and costed with a view
to attract future IFI and other donor funding.
21
Environmental regional cooperation on
cross border issues
• Project title: Lake Ohrid Conservation Project
• Starting date 1998
• Finishing date March 2005
• Project budget: 1840000 USD GEF, 142000 USD
Albanian Government
• Project objectives: The conservation of natural value and
the biodiversity of the Ohrid Lake and collaboration
between Republic of Albania and FYRoM for a joint
effective management of the watershed.
22
Environmental regional cooperation on
cross border issues
• Programme title: Enabling Activity for Climatic Change
Programme – Albania (for more detailed go to ccalb@icc-
al.org)
• Starting date 1998
• Finishing date 2009
• Regional Project budget:
• 62,000 USD - Improvement for GHG inventory (GEF).
End June 2006.
• Project objectives: Preparation, Maintenance and Increase
of national capacities for the preparation of the national
communications to the UNFCCC, secure an ongoing and
improvement of this process.
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Environmental regional cooperation on
cross border issues
• Project title: Conservation of Wetlands and Coastal
Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Region
• Starting date 1999
• Finishing date 2005
• Project budget: 1,7 51million USD by GEF; 150 000
USD by Albanian Govern.
• Project objectives: To have a sustainable management and
the preservation of the biologic diversity in the coastal
zone of 6 Mediterranean countries through the
compilation of a suitable legal framework, institutions and
capacities building, exchange of experience, the
undertaking of concrete actions, etc. The project is being
implemented in the Narta zone.
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Environmental regional cooperation on
cross border issues
• Project title: Strengthening of the relations of the
Environment Ministry with the Environment European
Agency. First phase: Regional project that includes
Albania and Yugoslavia.
• Second phase: Project budget: 2 MEuro.
• 2004-2006.
• Regional EIONET training of the IT experts from the
Balkan MoEs.
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Environmental regional cooperation on
cross border issues
• MoU between the Ministry of Environment and Territory
(Republic of Italy) and the MoE (Albania) On the
“Cooperation in the field of the clean development
mechanism under article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol”
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Environmental regional cooperation on
cross border issues
• Regional Project “Integrated management of the
ecosystems of the Prespa Lake trans-boundary region.
expected to start soon. To be finalized in 2006. 928,000
USD. GEF.
• Objectives: To promote integrated management of the
ecosystem of the trans-boundary region of the National
Prespa Park through the participation of all parties and
through the increase of the cooperation between three
participating countries in this project (Albania, FORYM ,
Greece).
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Environmental regional cooperation on cross border
issues
• Project title: Integrated Ecosystem management of Lake
Shkodra
• Starting date 2005. Finishing date 2006.
• Project budget: 175,000 USD. WB.
• Project objectives: To control pollution and to improve
Biodiversity conservation of Lake Shkoder. Regional
project between Republic of Albania and Republic of
Monte Negro.
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